Burial case



M. SMYSOR BURIAL CASE Jan. 9, 1934.

, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 10 R m m N N R w w T m A w N. am.

mw Sm Y Mm SM Mw Jan. 9, 1934.

Filed April l0, 1953 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 9', 1934 wenn EUREAL CASE Mon Sniyser, Cincinnati, @hie Application April l0, 1933.

3 gClaims.

This invention relates to improvements in burial cases and primarily to a burial case which will not deteriorate under ground nor collapse under the weight of the earth thereon, and sealed against Jthe invasion of moisture and non-cumbersome so that it can be conveniently handled and conveyed for funeral or interment ceremonies.

An object of the invention is to provide a burial case having the characteristics of a casket or coffin, conveniently transporiable and artistic in appearance, and as a vault resisting destruction and collapse under ground, and sealed against the invasion of moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laminated wall burial case consisting of wooden panels exteriorly sheet metal sheathed, the side wall panels on the interior side thereof reinforced with wood boards or planking in truss assembly, and a crowned cover with the arch voussoirs or wooden strips as a unit metal sheathed exteriorly and interiorly with a truss reinforcement on the inner side.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved burial case with a portion of the lid or cover in section.

Figure 2 is a detailed top plan view of the cover with parts broken away to show the structural features thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the cover on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the receptacle bottom.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on line 5 5, Figure 4, with the sheet metal sheathing omitted.

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of a corner of the receptacle with portions shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, the burial case cun= sists of a box or receptacle 1 and a cover 2, each having Walls of composite structure as of wood exteriorly metal covered. The end and side Walls of the receptacle 1 each comprise a wood panel 3, preferably of cypress, reinforced on the inner side with longitudinal and vertical struts 4 assembled in a truss work nailed or otherwise secured to the panel to give the wall the necessary stability against collapse under the weight of the earth when buried for the usual burial depth.

The vertical struts rest upon a sill 5 as a marginal reinforcement for the bottom panel 6. The horizontal struts along the upper end of the wall panels 3 are tenoned at their opposite ends into Serial No. 665,354

vertical struts. At the opposite ends of the walls and for the side walls, the horizontal struts are of sectional length and ienon into vertical struts intermediate of the length of the sides. Various designs of reinforcing trussing may be employed 60 by tacking or otherwise, the lining and drapery fabrics with which a caslret is usually decorated.

The upper end or margin of the truss work eX- tends slightly above the upper edge of the Wall thereby forming a rabbet for'tlie upper edge of the case and a mating joint for the cover.

The exterior side or" the wood Walls and bottom of the case are covered with sheet metal, preferably of copper, the siding or covering 7 having all of its seams or joints mate necessary to properly apply the sheet metal over the walls and bottom which are soldered or Welded to absolutely seal the same against the admission of water.

A compressible gasket 8 of lead or other suitable material is interposed between the sheet ine-tal covering and upper edges of the walls and 55 the truss work which forms the rabbet, the gashet strips overlapping the joints thereof at the corners, the gasket accommodating for any irregularities in the meeting surfaces when the lead or cover is applied and provides for making a watertight joint. The corner or angle of the rabbet between the oiset plane surfaces of the top edge of the case is recessed'or indented into the Wood to provide a packing space between the adjoining surfaces of the case and cover for additionally sealing the closure joint.

The exterior of the case is provided with the necessary trimmings as the handles and corner or base moldings 9, the latter preferably of sheet metal soldered or welded to the sheet metal sidincr or covering which serves to reinforce the corners of the case and ornate the structure.

The body or filler portion of the cover 2 primarily is of wooden slat construction of arch form transversely and semi-arched at its opposite longitudinal ends, consisting of a base or sill frame 1G composed of strips of wood suitably joined together at their ends or corners of the frame, rabbeted on the inner side of the upper half of the frame, the frame representing the abutment for the arch.

The top portion of the cover is crowned or arched, the arch formed of a plurality of webshaped wooden strips or voussoirs 11 with the sides of the frame serving as the abutments for the arch. The arch is of three-centered or elliptical type, although it may follow various other designs. The opposite longitudinal ends of the cover are correspondingly semi-arched, the strips or Voussoirs thereof mitered with the longitudinal strips forming the lateral arch.

The wooden body structure of the cover is sheet metal bound or covered exteriorly and interiorly. The sheet metal exterior covering 12 has its edges flanged inwardly to overlap the lower edge of the abutment frame 10 and secured thereto by braces or screws, the anging overlapping a ange of a Z-bar or strip 13, the flange recessed into the lower edge of the frame. Thebarorstrip A13 is secured to and covers the inner -lower half of the abutment frame. The inner sheet metal covering 14 is marginally inwardly anged, `the flange overlapping the sec- .ondilange of the Z-bar or strip 13 land secured orfastened to the .underside of a ledge or molding 15 for the upper halfof the frame, the ledge stripland Z-bar, with the lower edge of the abutment frame, forming a rabbeted edge for the cover mating with the corresponding rabbeted edge of thecase to interlock therewith and provide Ua sealing joint.

IThe .inner cover is fastened to each of the voussoirsby screws or other fastening means 16 distributed at the definite spacings. A brace strip 1'? extends centrally and longitudinally oi' the crown of `the cover and is secured to the inner covering -lfi and cross bracing by a plurality Vofmetallicfbrace strips 18 denitely spaced apart V,for the length of -the longitudinal brace bar. Each brace'strap is benttofhook form at its oppositeends and engaged through a slot in the inner `covering and against an anchoring strip 19 extending.longitudinally on the inner side Yo1 the cover.

The wooden ledge, cross lstrap anchoring and central brace stripsfurnishsupports for applying the lining and drapery fabric as an interior trimming for the cover. Illustration of thc trim- .mingk however, is herein omitted.

The structure of the cover is secure against collapse under a pressure and weight considerably in excess ofthe amount of vearth thereon for the usual burying depth and the load or Weight of theearthupon the coverwill wedge or compress thegasket in the mating joint of the cover and case to a degree insuring and maintaining a moisture andir-,tight seal.

A comparatively thin gauge of sheet metal, preferably copper, is employed for the exterior sheathing of both the case and cover, permanently protecting the wooden body structure and seal against the permeation of moisture to the interior of the case. The metal sheathing can be enameled or otherwise surface finished to give it sthetic value and to increase its durability.

'Ifhe burial case asa single unit substitutes for the use of separate units of casket and vault, considerably reducing the burial cost in the furnishing of an artistic, non-burdensome casket or cofiin and a durable and enduring vault.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A burial case, comprising, a box-like receptacle of wooden side, end and bottom panels, the panels forming the side and end walls interiorly reinforced by planking in truss assembly and the reinforcement having a continuous top edge vextending above the corresponding edges ofthe wall panels and therewith forming a rabbeted top edge of the receptacle for a mating connection with the cover, and a sheet metal sheathing exteriorly enclosing the receptacle and the rabbeted top edge thereof.

A2. VA burial case, comprising, a box-like receptacle of laminated wood side walls, end Walls and bottom,the inner layerfor each of the side and end wallsin truss assembly with the upper edge thereof continuous with and extending above the corresponding edge of the outer layer of the wall and therewith forming a rabbet for a mating connection with a cover, and a sheet metal sheathing exteriorly enclosing said receptacie and extended to cover the rabbeted top edge thereof for making a metal to metal contact with a mating metal edge of a cover.

3. A burial case, comprising, a box-like receptacle of laminated wood side walls, end walls and bottom, the inner layer for each of the side and end walls in truss assembly with the upper edge thereof continuous with and extending above the corresponding edge o the outer Alayer of the wallvand therewith Vforming a rabbet for a mating connection with al cover, and a sheet metal sheathing exteriorly enclosing said receptacleand extended to cover the rabbeted top edge thereof for making a metal to metal contact :with a mating metal edge of a cover, and the-rabbeted edges each longitudinally recessed providing an intermediate continuous packing space for making afliquid sealing joint with the cover.

MON SMYSOR. 

